Building resilience needs to be central to treating drug-resistant tuberculosis

The arrival of new medications, such as bedaquiline and delamanid, to treat the half million individuals who develop drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB) globally each year has raised hope that both treatment access and individual patient outcomes can be improved. However, together with increasing discourse around providing more patient-centred care in tuberculosis, there is a growing body of literature describing the experiences of individuals going through DRTB treatment. In The Lancet Global Health, Amrita Daftary and colleagues add to this literature by describing distinct stages through DRTB diagnosis and treatment from the point of view of patients with DRTB and HIV in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. The study emphasises that despite improvements in treatment, including shorter, all-oral regimens that include bedaquiline, DRTB treatment remains lengthy, difficult, and life-changing for individuals.

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